Phuket hookah bar raided in ongoing clampdown on illicit tobacco trade

In the bustling city of Phuket, a hookah bar in Cherng Talay was stormed by a team of ten officials from the Thalang District. Following the crackdown on the illicit tobacco trade, authorities have apprehended and charged the venue operator involved in the illegal activity.

The operation was initiated late into the night at 11.09pm on Friday, February 16. This was not a spontaneous raid, but rather part of a wider, ongoing campaign against the illicit sale of hookah products, which has been a prevalent issue throughout the region.

When the officials stormed in, the bar was not empty. Foreign patrons were enjoying their late-night sessions, completely oblivious to the fact that the establishment they were in was operating illegally.

The raid wasn’t fruitless. The authorities managed to seize a substantial amount of evidence. Among the confiscated items were four ready-to-use hookah sets, cash bills, and a variety of hookah tobacco flavours. The aggregate weight of the tobacco seized was a staggering 7,079 grammes, reported Phuket News.

The proprietor of the establishment, referred to only as Mr A, was arrested on the spot. He was then escorted to the Cherng Talay Police Station, where he would be held accountable for his actions.

The charges against Mr A are far from trivial. He stands accused of illegally selling tobacco products, a clear violation of the Tobacco Act. Furthermore, he is implicated in the illegal importation and distribution of both hookah and electric hookah products.

These actions breach the Customs Act B.E. 2017 and contravene the Ministry of Commerce regulations that were issued back in 2014, as confirmed by the official report on the raid.

A similar event was reported in Phuket last month. A man was arrested with 315 bottles of kratom water, highlighting efforts to combat illegal substances. The suspect confessed to producing and selling the beverage without authorisation, emphasising the importance of regulatory enforcement for public safety.